ARCHIVE: Australian Ham Radio Discussion Forum ( AHRDF )
PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - Printable Version

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PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 04-07-2018

Hi all,

I have been writing more code in recent times and am now making available my PSK Reporter Viewer software for Win32/64 Win7-10 and, as usual, it is free of charge.  A better insight as to the whys and wherefores plus a download link is available on my web site at  http://www.vk4adc.com/web/software-projects/55-vk4adc-utils/185-pskreporter-viewer but, briefly, the software queries the PSKReporter.info web site with the user's callsign and displays the (eg FT8) signal reports available from it WITHOUT YOU NEEDING TO WORK THE REPORTING STATIONS. There is a work-around on the web page if you don't run the WSJT-X software on your PC.

Note that the PSKReporter site does not provide immediate signal reporting and normally displays results on map images with further information from a "log" function if you dig deeper.  My software allows you to avoid using a browser (and using up a lot a screen real estate) and replacing it with a small software utility - small in program size and relatively small on screen. It automatically queries the web server every 5 minutes and displays updated signal reports for you. If you aren't managing to make actual FT8 contacts (for whatever reason), at least you will know how your transmissions are being received elsewhere around the globe. 

Try it, it's free - and, while I think I now have all of the bugs out of it, please advise if you find something unusual.

UPDATED software is now available following implementation of feedback from PSKReporter.info. The original web link applies regardless of updates.

73 Doug VK4ADC

PS I have been working on 'LogView for WSJT-X', a replacement for my WSJTLogViewer application, with an inbuilt mapping feature and it should be available shortly. I will provide a link to the web page when it is....
NOW AVAILABLE AS PER LINK : 
https://ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=597&pid=2399#pid2399

PPS You WILL get a firewall warning since PSKRepView.exe accesses data on the WWW.

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK2CSW - 04-07-2018

Hey Doug,

Installed the application, after a wait it populated the various lists.

No issues to report.

Well except it is a bit of a downer when you realise that all those folk decoded your message but few responded.  That's not your problem, it's something i need to resolve with my shrink.

Confused   Big Grin

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 04-07-2018

(04-07-2018, 07:58 PM)VK2CSW Wrote: Well except it is a bit of a downer when you realise that all those folk decoded your message but few responded.  That's not your problem, it's something i need to resolve with my shrink.

Confused   Big Grin

Colin

I know exactly what you mean. I was on 14074 FT8 this arvo and I was seeing a lot of different callsigns and some good signal level reports appearing from the USA and even Europe via this software but the responses to my CQ calls were going largely unanswered.  At least I could see how well my signals were getting out  Smile .

You have to take into account that many leave their gear and software running but are not watching their screens (like I often do here) so while your transmissions are getting out, there is a definite lack of humans at the other end to click the mouse to respond.

Whether you need to (1) invest in visiting a shrink; or (2) buying a big linear amp that will survive the 50% transmit duty cycle of digital modes and make for big signals regardless of propagation .. that is for you to decide.

Good to hear that the software is working for you.

Doug

PS.. 
UPDATED software is now available following implementation of feedback from PSKReporter.info

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 12-07-2018

The PSKRepView software is now at V1.1.0.5 as of today (12/7/2018) and has a critical change to the query process on the PSKReporter.info site.  The build info at the top MUST show as 12Jul2018.

Please download this version as a replacement for any earlier version and extract it to the same folder/directory overwriting anything earlier.

A side benefit of the update is that there is an Alternate view option (via a tick box) now available for the signal reports display and some may prefer to use that going forward. It is an option, not mandatory to use.


http://www.vk4adc.com/web/software-projects/55-vk4adc-utils/185-pskreporter-viewer

Thanks

Doug VK4ADC

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK2CSW - 12-07-2018

Hi Doug,

I've updated to the latest revision (thanks).

One really minor issue, which I am you've probably noticed is that the new checkbox and label for Alternate View slightly overlap the textbox border.

Is it possible to retrieve the band info from PSKReporter.info? I sometimes jump around a couple of bands (as everyone would do I suppose) and have thought it would be good to be able to distinguish which bands the spots were on.

Colin

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 13-07-2018

Colin


I will look further into both of your comments...

The tick box placement is easy - it is just about a real estate agent's three dream words : location, location, location... Or finding enough space.... In reality, I wasn't going to make it optional initially. It was just going to be the newer format but I realised some users might actually prefer the original 'cleaner' presentation. Hence the tick box.

The retrieved data files contain a frequency string { eg frequency="10136466" } so it is easy enough to process that but where do we present that info ?   An extra column after Mode ? Before Mode ? Joined into an existing column - which one ? (eg 30mFT8)  

{{
Edit: for original listing style..
12Jul2018 03:37:34,  V31DL,       -8,     20m, FT8, EK57, Belize, 
12Jul2018 03:36:32,  VK3BDX,     -10,   20m, FT8, QF21, Australia, 
12Jul2018 03:35:30,  AF9A,         -24,   20m, FT8, EM69, United States, 
12Jul2018 03:35:29,  VK1AZ,       -2,     20m, FT8, QF44, Australia, 
12Jul2018 03:34:59,  JA4LKB,      -22,   20m, FT8, PM53, Japan, 
12Jul2018 03:34:59,  JH7QPW,    -17,   20m, FT8, QM09, Japan, 
12Jul2018 03:34:59,  JA4QZX,     -16,   20m, FT8, PM64, Japan, 

Haven't revised the second view as yet..
Yes, I have: see attached image

}}


Do we just abbreviate it by band in Metres (eg 15, 17, 20, 30..) or frequency in MHz (eg 3.5, 7, 10, 14..) ?   I note that PSK Reporter uses designators like 160m, 80m, 60m, 40m but since I have to do the conversion to band or MHz from the Hz frequency string anyway, I can present it almost any way you like.

I am open to implementing improvements in the software based on feedback received. 
Anyone else have comments or suggestions before I start work on Colin's ?

Doug VK4ADC

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK2CSW - 13-07-2018

Hey Doug,

I like the column arrangement shown in the image.

I would say that a band descriptor (i.e. 20m) would be sufficient - as the frequencies are pretty much standardised and within a band of a couple of kHz.

Cheers

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 13-07-2018

V1.1.0.6 dated 13Jul2018 s now available for download, complete with Colin's changes in place.

http://www.vk4adc.com/web/software-proje...ter-viewer

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK2CSW - 13-07-2018

Hi Doug,

The latest version ran fine for about an hour. It then started to generate error dialogs, about 1 a second until I killed the process. The error is List Index is out of bounds (1).

If I restart, upon the next update it starts again.

I deleted all of the text files in the folder, shutdown WSJT-X and JTAlertX. Restarted PSKReporter. Started the other programs and the issue again started.

Two things I did notice is that the Records counter is blank and that although initially it cleared the list as the webpage indicated that it should now, it now doesn't appear to be doing that.

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 14-07-2018

What a pain..  I have a busy weekend ahead but will try to get a couple of hours to actively make FT8 calls to run the software and see if my system pops up the same error.  

If you recall, how many reports for you were listed just prior to the error - in the vicinity of 300 ??
The software automatically truncates the PSKRpts.txt file to 300 entries and I am now wondering if the truncation is out by one causing the List Index error.  Alternatively, the list is sorted into descending order regardless of the data order according to the PSK Reporter download and the sort index might be out by one.

Only time and activity will reveal the actual cause and it might be Monday before those two factors coincide. I am sure it will be a simple fix once I know exactly what the issue is - typically adding a '-1' to a list size variable value.

You can use the previous version until the fix is made.

Doug

PS Based on the above, I have added a couple of lines of code so that the file is saved and reloaded after the truncate operation and that serves to reset the list index count. I updated the download to 1.1.0.7 with these changes in place. Please try it with this most recent version. (14/7/18 : 7.45AM)

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK2CSW - 14-07-2018

Hi Doug,

Don't feel obliged to rush it out on my behalf.

I will give 1.1.0.7 a run this afternoon (SWMBO permitting).

The Reports field in 1.1.0.6 has pretty much been blank. Occasionally it showed 1 but it did not tally with the list on the display.

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 14-07-2018

Colin

I don't like there being faulty code out there so I need to find the reason. I have used an earlier version for well over an hour at a time without any fall-over so maybe it somehow relates to the new view option. How, I am not sure as it doesn't use a list that way except when sorting the reports.

Thanks for the direct email with the files attached. I have looked at them with a text editor and they are all relatively normal. Creating and working with pure text files makes that error check quite easy !!

Another thought does cross my mind though and that is the low number of reports of your transmissions (like one ) when it keeled over.  Maybe it is not the upper 300 limit that is reached but rather it is seeing just one and treating it as zero - or having a nominal zero and thinking it is -1 - and that last state is a definite List out of bounds error. Have seen that one a few times during its early development.

My reception report counts are towards the 300 upper limit as I am often beaming Europe long path or short path to USA on 20m,  plus getting many South-East Asia & Japanese hits coming back via PSKRepView. Obviously I need to try it with minimal reports to emulate yours.

I might wait a bit for any other bug reports before I push out another version as they will (hopefully) reveal whether the problem appears at either the low or high reports count numbers. 

My weekend is shot doing fencing for my daughter so won't be back on FT8 until during the week, so no opportunity to test it here until at least then.

Doug

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 16-07-2018

PSKRepView version 1.1.0.8 is available for download as of late today.
Please make sure the version you have is time stamped 7.30PM. (zip time 7.36PM)


From the web page: "
V1.1.0.8 dated 16Jul2018 has a number of changes internally and some slight repositioning of screen items. The major internal changes were an update of the reports sorting (PSKRpts.txt contents) and a data check to eliminate duplicates as well as enforcing a report count limit of the last 300 items.  Improved bug-checking is now in place for very low numbers of reports as well as the high end (300). A new 'Clr Files' button has been added to allow the user to delete the PSKRep.txt and PSKRpts.txt files so the software will do a full re-poll of the PSKReporter web site data at the next scheduled update.
"
I think the changes to the source code over the last few days will solve the outstanding issues with fall-over after an hour or so of runtime.   Please try it and advise.

Thanks
Doug VK4ADC

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK2CSW - 22-07-2018

Hi Doug,

Just a quick follow up.

I've been using 1.1.0.8 again for a couple of days.

I haven't seen the error dialog since the record count rose above 30 odd.

Cheers

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 22-07-2018

Colin

That is actually good news for me because it confirms that I had found the issue and solved same. My local testing with zero, one and even a few reports shows it will work normally with something fewer than 30 too.

The PSKRepView version currently on the website is V1.1.0.10 - it has a few enhancements made after 1.1.0.8 but the same bug fixes in place.

73 Doug

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 01-08-2018

The PSKRepView software showed up an error this morning (1st August) and it wasn't a fault within the software itself.

It was a "socket error 11001, host not found" message and is due to the DNS not resolving at PSKReporter.info for the data retrieval facility. Browser access confirmed the DNS lookup failure, as did "ping"-ing the site.  The normal map graphic support is still ok via the browser so the site is not totally offline.

I have emailed the contact at PSKReporter.info in the USA to enquire whether it is a permanent or temporary situation and hope to have an answer within the next few days.  

Until that time, the software is not able to retrieve data so is unusable.

Doug VK4ADC

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 02-08-2018

The data retrieve function at PSKReporter.info has now been fixed (at 2nd August).  It was a swap of the letters I and E in the web site configuration during a hosting changeover.

The new hosting runs the latest software so threw up another error that makes an update to the latest PSKrepView version 1.1.0.11 (or later) mandatory.  All new-ish versions will automatically advise the user to upgrade and provide a bold red link at the bottom of the program window to make it easier to achieve. Those using older PSKRepView versions will need to visit the web page below to manually find the download link.

http://www.vk4adc.com/web/software-proje...ter-viewer

Doug VK4ADC

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK2CSW - 02-10-2018

Have PSK Reporter changed something?

Or is it me?

On their website I see up-to-date data.  However on PSKRepView the latest data it shows is 18 September (The last time I had a chance to play radio).
(02-10-2018, 06:44 AM)VK2CSW Wrote: Have PSK Reporter changed something?

Or is it me?

On their website I see up-to-date data.  However on PSKRepView the latest data it shows is 18 September (The last time I had a chance to play radio).

Belay my last.

Although I should be working  (*should*) I did a rebuild with a fresh download.  Shows same version but now it works.

No need to panic.

Smile

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 02-10-2018

No panic here. It all seems to be working for me too, no errors and plenty of reception reports.

Please remember that until you start transmitting and reception reports are flowing, the info received from PSKReporter.info will be the last time you were heard, a few minutes, hours, days, weeks or months ago. Once new info is available, it updates on your screen.

RE: PSK Reporter Viewer for FT8 - VK4ADC - 19-04-2019

Version 1.1.0.14 of PSKReporterViewer was released today to solve a permanent "Site Not Available" error message that has just appeared to users. (Notified by G0OOF)

The update was necessary as the PSKReporter.info web site had been altered to https:// ( i.e. SSL ) where previously it was only available as http://psk....

The software now uses a changed web interface library to provide the SSL support but has increased the sizes of the resulting EXE and ZIP files.

The latest version ZIP is available for download from www.vk4adc.com/web/software-projects/55-vk4adc-utils/185-pskreporter-viewer

UPDATE :
 
The PSKRepView.zip distribution now contains the latest PSKRepView.exe (V 1.1.0.14 dated 19 April 2019) plus the three DLL files required for the SSL support. All files are extracted into the same folder.